A new dawn at UNN

The elected executive members of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Students’ Union Government (SUG) have been inaugurated. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Benjamin Ozumba, warned the students’ leaders not to toe the destructive path in order not to jeopardise their future. JAMES OJO (400-Level Mass Communication) reports.

It was a day they all looked forward to, after a keenly contested Students’ Union Government (SUG) elections held in February. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) was agog, last Thursday, when the elected officials of the union were inaugurated.

The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Benjamin Ozumba, in his address, charged the union leaders to live up to the billings.

He said: “What is your aim as SUG leaders? Do you have the aim to pursue whatever you want from the management by violence or by inciting students for demonstrations? I would pray that your passion to serve should become an obligation that sets you on a course of self-sacrifice for the benefit of the entire students. I urge you to support the management in keeping the university at the top of others in the country.”

The VC described students’ unionism as “leadership training ground” for your future leaders, advising the SUG leaders not to tow destructive path in order not to jeopardise their future. He told the union leaders to listen to students’ advice and pursue grievances peacefully.

The Dean of Students’ Affairs (DSA), Prof Uju Umo, who attributed the success recorded in the SUG election to what he called “non-interventionist disposition” of the management in students’ politics, assured the executive members of the management’s support. She urged them to be of good conduct.

Umo, who supervised the election, said: “May I remind you all the elected SUG officials that they are now part of the university administration. You must remember that, to whom much is given much is expected. You must not only be fair to all in your decision-making process, you must also be seen to be fair in all your dealings. You must be open to dialogue and negotiations.

“I assure you that, as the Dean of Students’ Affairs, my doors are always open to you. It is also a positive development that we have a listening Vice-Chancellor, who is ever ready to engage you in discussion on how to improve students’ welfare.”

While assuring students of the union’s readiness to fulfil their expectations, the SUG president, Chukwuemeka Ezeja, vowed to hit the ground running. He called on students to work together with the union to achieve the campaign promises, adding that under his watch, students’ welfare would be a top priority.

He said: “I implore all students to cooperate with the union leaders to enable us achieve most of our campaign promises together. I promise that the Students’ Union Government under my leadership will serve students’ interest.We must work together in achieving our goals.”

In an interview with CAMPUSLIFE, a 200-Level Microbiology student, Emeka Ugwuanyi, advised the union leaders to consolidate and surpass the achievements of the past administration if they are to earn students’ trust.

He said: “This swearing-in event is significant, because it marks the beginning of another chapter in the history of the students’ unionism in this school. However, beyond the pomp, the elected officials should take up the responsibility of bridging the gap between their manifestoes and expectations. They should also work together towards achieving more than what the last administration achieved.”